It’s a day where food is the center of the celebration. The average person eats more than 2,000 calories at the Thanksgiving table. Many traditional Thanksgiving Day staples are filled with carbohydrates, fat and sugar. But with advance planning and some guidelines, you can stick to your diabetes meal plan while enjoying the day with friends and family. Read more

You’ve seen athletes stretch before a game or a run. But it’s not just for athletes. Of particular benefit to people with diabetes, stretching has been proven to increase circulation. It increases blood flow and the supply of nutrients to muscles and cartilage. You can get a great stretch workout by doing pilates or yoga – but stretching is something you can do anytime and anywhere. Read more

When you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor is your best source for information. He or she will give you guidelines for monitoring your blood sugar, along with diet changes and exercise recommendations. As you begin to change your lifestyle to manage your condition, you will likely have questions. There are also questions you should ask that you may not have considered. Here is a list of important questions to ask your doctor: Read more

You may have heard your nurse referred to as a WOCN, a term that means Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse. This designation is reserved for nurses who have been certified by a special board that oversees those who specialize in treating patients with wounds, ostomy and continence issues. To become a certified WOCN, a nurse must be a registered nurse (RN) with a bachelor’s degree (BA, BS or BSN), and they must pass an intensive exam to prove their knowledge in caring for patients with wound, ostomy and continence health issues. Certification shows that a nurse has a personal commitment to education and professional growth, ensuring quality patient care. WOC is one of the few specialties recognized by the ANA (American Nurses Association). Read more

You make a resolution to get in shape, and out of the gate you get to it with gusto. But after a few weeks, or days, you start slipping off your routine. It took some work to get motivated – it can be even more difficult to stay motivated. But don’t let your progress go to waste. Try these tips to stay on track. Read more

Teaching children how to manage their diabetes through healthy eating takes time. Even if you’ve done a good job keeping them on track all year, Halloween can present a challenge. Halloween parties and trick or treating bring on temptation and can derail a meal plan. But with some planning and creativity, you can make Halloween fun for your little one. Your first step is to talk to your child. Have him or her help you make plans for a healthy holiday.

To manage trick or treat night, make sure they know not to snack from the treat bag while out. Take a healthy snack with you to prevent temptation, and to battle low blood glucose that can occur from walking. Read more

Each year Ostomy Awareness Day, held this year on Oct. 4, gives people within the ostomy community an opportunity to reach out to friends, co-workers, neighbors and others to educate them about ostomies.

“The whole day is about education, trying to break down the stigma about what ostomy surgery is,” explains Dave Rudzin, current president of the United Ostomy Associations of America. “What I’d like people to take away from Ostomy Awareness Day is that we’re people just like anybody else – the only difference is the way we get rid of waste. We do everything – we work, we play sports, we travel.”

Rudzin offered his insights into how people with ostomies can make the most of Ostomy Awareness Day. Read more

After your ostomy surgery, your health care providers will explain how to change your ostomy pouch and how to properly care for your stoma and the surrounding skin. You will be given a lot of new information to absorb, and it’s normal to have many unanswered questions, even after you leave the hospital. To help you make the adjustment as you settle in at home, here are 10 of the most frequently asked questions from new ostomy patients, and some helpful answers. Read more

When Bert Burns was only 20 years old, he was hit by a drunk driver. The force of the impact threw Bert from the car, breaking his neck at C6 and C7. He learned he would have to face life as a quadriplegic. Bert spent the next six months in rehab, convinced his life was over.

His life changed, but it didn’t end. In fact, it was just beginning. Read more

If you have any questions about your specific medical needs, please contact your doctor. This blog should be used for general information only and is not intended to be used in place of talking to your health care professional or having regular visits with your doctor or health care provider.